Shen and Warren
Dec. 6th, 2017 05:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ax_angel posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ax_mainWarren goes to beg the use of the Activist Club's time. Shen is amenable. They discuss and make a plan. Public Forum is go!
After a quick text, Warren tracked Shen down in the cafeteria. He didn't expect she'd mind if they invaded the club--which Warren was a part of anyhow--for a few, but he still hadn't talked to her about the debacle with Tam and Lil so... this should be amusing. He grabbed an apple and some peanut butter for a snack and settled across from her. "How's it going?"
Shen looked up from her phone and smiled at Warren. She was just done eating, as her empty tray testified, but she'd stayed put since he'd said he was on his way. "How about you?"
"Harried, thanks," Warren said with a chuckle. "Half of the requests I get for press just want to tank me and the other half just want to know where JP and I went on our first date. Way to miss the point, right?"
"I don't know, where did you go on your first date?" Shen retorted, putting on a very fake, very overly-interested air. Before grinning, anyway, and dismissing that with a wave of her hand. "I guess the press are just terrible. You should like, hit the Daily Show. And introduce me to Trevor Noah."
"If I didn't already have two boyfriends, I'd fight you for him, but okay. Fair." Warren snorted and started slicing up his apple. Easier to dip it in the peanut butter that way. "And FYI, we went flying, and then had a picnic in the woods. He brought candles. I was like, I'm yours bro."
Shen laughed oh so happily at that. "Oh, that's perfect. Seriously? I would not have expected that from him." It showed how much she knew him, but then again, she'd never gotten much of a chance. They'd never really talked, and then he'd gone and been an ass to Jeanne-Marie. It was probably time to change that.
"Like, honestly, no one had ever done something like that for me. And he's such a hard-ass on the outside, you know? Caught me by surprise." Warren's smile went kind of dopey. "Anyhow. Not why I tracked you down. What's the plan for the next Activist Club meeting?"
"Oh," Shen's eyebrows raised, and she took a second to change gears completely. "I was toying with the idea of watching Malcolm X. It seems pretty relevant to - well, everything, right now. And then a discussion, obviously."
"Great movie, too." Warren considered. "There's a documentary about the black panthers on Netflix... though nevermind, there's no comparison. Centuries of oppression and skin-based slavery vs. a new kind of human. Not really applicable. Still, we need people to look up to, so I like the X idea."
"Nothing's exactly applicable to our situation," Shen answered with a small shrug. It was unprecedented, after all. "Still, we can draw parallels and learn from other fights against oppression."
"Exactly." And, to be honest, maybe it'd inspire more of the kids of color. Tam was out there, but otherwise it was we three white boys and... not exactly inviting for anyone but other white boys, was it? "Well, so, I had that little chat with Lil--which was a complete nightmare, yes, but. I had an idea, if you wouldn't mind giving up a few minutes at the next meeting?"
Shen made a face at the mention of Lil, but didn't comment, simply listening to Warren. "What's the idea?"
Warren snorted. "Yeah, I know, she's a nightmare.
"That said, she insists some people might have questions and concerns and ideas but be afraid to approach us--or not sure that they can. I'm pretty sure that's just her projecting because she got her feelings hurt, but whatever. It can't hurt to try.
"So, I wondered if you might agree to do a little open forum, maybe at the end of one of the meetings, where we let people know that the out mutants in the school will be available for--you know. Questions. Concerns. Comments. Suggestions."
"Sure," Shen agreed with a nod. "And your privilege is showing, by the way. You're very wealthy, and/or famous, well-educated white boys. That can be pretty intimidating to some people, so, much as I dislike her, she's got a point. Even if she only made it for personal, bullshit reasons," she added, because that was pretty likely. "Maybe no one'll have questions, but what if someone does. It's a good idea."
"No, I get it, believe me--I've heard it over and over from Tamara and you're absolutely right," Warren said, hands up in surrender. "Which is why I want to go ahead with the thing anyhow. Even though I--I really dislike her. Seriously. Ugh."
"Tell me about it," Shen agreed dryly. She did not understand that girl, and she wasn't sure she wanted to try anymore. "So yes, totally. Come and do your thing. What's her problem with you, anyway?"
"She got weird on me at Shinobi's party because I said hi, I guess. It was before we danced, so I was only slightly buzzed but--obviously I wasn't hitting on her, so... she took issue with me having a boyfriend and yet still being attracted to girls--in spite of, again, not hitting on her--or something?
"I don't even fucking know man, Tamara said she's 'not used to queer people being treated normally', but frankly, Scarlet..." He shot Shen a significant look. "And then she apparently got into it with JP over Magneto and got her feelings hurt when he brought it up after she came roaring in with 'fuck you' at me so...
"She's a nightmare, basically. Yeah. That covers it." And if she knew he was saying this she'd probably lose her shit and call him the worst person ever to exist since the dawn of time. But hey. Whatever man.
"Hey, she got pissed at me when I didn't like the thought of her testing how invulnerable she was by asking people to punch her," Shen replied with a twist of her lips. Seriously, shouldn't that be worrying? She hoped no one had gone along with that plan. "People including me. And then she called my strength pansy-ass, and didn't seem to give a shit that it's a totally sexist and homophobic slur. She's been glaring at me ever since. Maybe she's got an amazing bidar and she's got the same problem with me as with you, who knows."
Warren didn't know if Tam was out to Shen--and that was a whole fuckin mess (of Tam's making, by his reckoning) anyhow, so... yeah. Not touching it. He just grunted affirmative. "That'd explain a lot.
"But I came up with this idea to try and meet her concerns, and even if her problems are totally phobic--fuck it, it's worth it." Warren chewed thoughtfully on some of his snack. "I mentioned the idea to Kurt, too. He's thinking of coming out, but Lil's freak out freaked him out a little. No one expects it from inside our own home. I think he'd join us."
"Oh, Kurt's amazing, that would be great," Shen stated without a moment's hesitation. "I... My uncle and I have been talking. We need more diversity, for other mutants to see and identify with. I'm just not sure how any of it would work, with the X-Men."
“That’s what I told Kurt, about the diversity,” Warren agreed. “I felt kinda bad for being like ‘thank god’ when he said he wanted to do it, but thank god. And we need even more.
“But yeah. I was thinking maybe image inducers for actual stuff where we don’t want to be recognized? Change our wings? People already assume I was the Avenging Angel in some quarters...”
Shen nodded at his words about needing even more; that was why Tian and she had been talking. A lot. Her mind wasn't made up, but she was definitely considering it. "We should talk to Xavier about it, too. He might have ideas." He'd been planning this for a lot longer than them, after all, which she really didn't like, still, but which also meant that he'd had more time to think about this stuff.
Warren made a face but he had to admit, “yeah, we should. Too many of us are too recognizable, with the physical mutations. And I’m gonna be pissed if coming out means I blew my chance at superheroing again.” He chuckled.
"At this stage, it's the only thing holding me back, I think," Shen commiserated. "I can't decide which matters most."
“I’ve got two boyfriends. I’m a firm believer in finding a way to have it all.”
Shen laughed. "And that is part of why I love you. Y'know. As long as you leave me Trevor Noah."
Warren chuckled. "Seems fair.
"Now all I gotta do is see if I can convince Simon to show up. He's not going to, but I'm gonna try."
"It won't look good at all if he doesn't," Shen agreed with a frown.
“It’s not that he won’t want to—well, I mean, he won’t, but mainly because he’s shit at peopleing and he knows it.” Warren’s wings ruffled with concern at the thought. “He’s so good at everything he does... I wouldn’t be surprised if the idea of this made him think he’d just screw it up and make it harder on us. So that’ll be my approach.”
"Good luck with that," she told him honestly. She hadn't had anything against Simon for a good long while, now, and at least he was aware that he sucked at peopleing. A lot.
“If I make it clear that it’ll really help, he’ll do it.” But could Warren convince Simon the potential good outweighed the potential bad? That was gonna be the hard part. “Kurt’s charming as fuck so that’ll offset a lot of awkward. And maybe someone else is considering coming out, and this’ll be encouraging for them.”
"Considering isn't committing to," Shen pointed out. "I mean, I know that personally, I don't wanna move on it unless I'm certain what I'm gonna do."
"Absolutely," Warren said, smiling a little now that Shen had revealed for sure that was what she'd been talking to her uncle about. Man, she'd be awesome out there... but he kept his enthusiasm in check. "It's not a decision I'd want anyone to take quickly. Obviously. I just mean, knowing there's a support system here at the school could be really helpful. It takes one weight off the super-weighty decision.
"And whatever you do, you know you can count on me, right?"
"No doubt in my mind," Shen told him honestly, a genuine smile backing up that answer.
“Damn right.” Warren winked. After chewing another piece of apple, He swallowed and said, “Also, we should make up some flyers to post in classrooms and make sure the teachers draw attention to it. Cover our bases. That cool with you!”
"Flyers, really?" Shen asked with a grimace. "How very last century. I know her point was not everybody uses the journals, but you can post there, ask the teachers to remind people about it, maybe put up a poster or two if you really wanna go with paper, but I don't really see the point in flyers, honestly."
“I don’t see the point in...” but Warren trailed off and sighed, wings rustling. Actually, Shen has kind of convinced him this was a useful idea after all, way more than he had been yesterday. It wasn’t just for show. It might actually encourage some people to feel like they were approachable. “Actually, never mind. I do see the point in all of this. I’m not talking about passing out flyers, though, just posting them in the classrooms. Might not make a difference, but on the off chance, I think it’s worth it.”
"Whatever you wanna do," Shen agreed easily. That didn't sound like using too much paper, and it would show how serious they were about reaching out. She paused, then admitted, "I don't know if I'll be relieved or disappointed if nobody's got any questions."
“I probably couldn’t help being insufferably smug,” Warren admitted. “But I promise to try.”
"Aw," Shen cooed at him, then smiled. "That settles it. I'll be pissed if nobody does."
Warren chuckled. "Can't say I blame you.
"But thanks, seriously. I'll get to work on rounding up the troops--and work on some wording for an advert. Let me know when the next meeting is supposed to happen?"
"I'll send you the schedule, you can pick your date," Shen nodded.
"You're the best."/cut>
After a quick text, Warren tracked Shen down in the cafeteria. He didn't expect she'd mind if they invaded the club--which Warren was a part of anyhow--for a few, but he still hadn't talked to her about the debacle with Tam and Lil so... this should be amusing. He grabbed an apple and some peanut butter for a snack and settled across from her. "How's it going?"
Shen looked up from her phone and smiled at Warren. She was just done eating, as her empty tray testified, but she'd stayed put since he'd said he was on his way. "How about you?"
"Harried, thanks," Warren said with a chuckle. "Half of the requests I get for press just want to tank me and the other half just want to know where JP and I went on our first date. Way to miss the point, right?"
"I don't know, where did you go on your first date?" Shen retorted, putting on a very fake, very overly-interested air. Before grinning, anyway, and dismissing that with a wave of her hand. "I guess the press are just terrible. You should like, hit the Daily Show. And introduce me to Trevor Noah."
"If I didn't already have two boyfriends, I'd fight you for him, but okay. Fair." Warren snorted and started slicing up his apple. Easier to dip it in the peanut butter that way. "And FYI, we went flying, and then had a picnic in the woods. He brought candles. I was like, I'm yours bro."
Shen laughed oh so happily at that. "Oh, that's perfect. Seriously? I would not have expected that from him." It showed how much she knew him, but then again, she'd never gotten much of a chance. They'd never really talked, and then he'd gone and been an ass to Jeanne-Marie. It was probably time to change that.
"Like, honestly, no one had ever done something like that for me. And he's such a hard-ass on the outside, you know? Caught me by surprise." Warren's smile went kind of dopey. "Anyhow. Not why I tracked you down. What's the plan for the next Activist Club meeting?"
"Oh," Shen's eyebrows raised, and she took a second to change gears completely. "I was toying with the idea of watching Malcolm X. It seems pretty relevant to - well, everything, right now. And then a discussion, obviously."
"Great movie, too." Warren considered. "There's a documentary about the black panthers on Netflix... though nevermind, there's no comparison. Centuries of oppression and skin-based slavery vs. a new kind of human. Not really applicable. Still, we need people to look up to, so I like the X idea."
"Nothing's exactly applicable to our situation," Shen answered with a small shrug. It was unprecedented, after all. "Still, we can draw parallels and learn from other fights against oppression."
"Exactly." And, to be honest, maybe it'd inspire more of the kids of color. Tam was out there, but otherwise it was we three white boys and... not exactly inviting for anyone but other white boys, was it? "Well, so, I had that little chat with Lil--which was a complete nightmare, yes, but. I had an idea, if you wouldn't mind giving up a few minutes at the next meeting?"
Shen made a face at the mention of Lil, but didn't comment, simply listening to Warren. "What's the idea?"
Warren snorted. "Yeah, I know, she's a nightmare.
"That said, she insists some people might have questions and concerns and ideas but be afraid to approach us--or not sure that they can. I'm pretty sure that's just her projecting because she got her feelings hurt, but whatever. It can't hurt to try.
"So, I wondered if you might agree to do a little open forum, maybe at the end of one of the meetings, where we let people know that the out mutants in the school will be available for--you know. Questions. Concerns. Comments. Suggestions."
"Sure," Shen agreed with a nod. "And your privilege is showing, by the way. You're very wealthy, and/or famous, well-educated white boys. That can be pretty intimidating to some people, so, much as I dislike her, she's got a point. Even if she only made it for personal, bullshit reasons," she added, because that was pretty likely. "Maybe no one'll have questions, but what if someone does. It's a good idea."
"No, I get it, believe me--I've heard it over and over from Tamara and you're absolutely right," Warren said, hands up in surrender. "Which is why I want to go ahead with the thing anyhow. Even though I--I really dislike her. Seriously. Ugh."
"Tell me about it," Shen agreed dryly. She did not understand that girl, and she wasn't sure she wanted to try anymore. "So yes, totally. Come and do your thing. What's her problem with you, anyway?"
"She got weird on me at Shinobi's party because I said hi, I guess. It was before we danced, so I was only slightly buzzed but--obviously I wasn't hitting on her, so... she took issue with me having a boyfriend and yet still being attracted to girls--in spite of, again, not hitting on her--or something?
"I don't even fucking know man, Tamara said she's 'not used to queer people being treated normally', but frankly, Scarlet..." He shot Shen a significant look. "And then she apparently got into it with JP over Magneto and got her feelings hurt when he brought it up after she came roaring in with 'fuck you' at me so...
"She's a nightmare, basically. Yeah. That covers it." And if she knew he was saying this she'd probably lose her shit and call him the worst person ever to exist since the dawn of time. But hey. Whatever man.
"Hey, she got pissed at me when I didn't like the thought of her testing how invulnerable she was by asking people to punch her," Shen replied with a twist of her lips. Seriously, shouldn't that be worrying? She hoped no one had gone along with that plan. "People including me. And then she called my strength pansy-ass, and didn't seem to give a shit that it's a totally sexist and homophobic slur. She's been glaring at me ever since. Maybe she's got an amazing bidar and she's got the same problem with me as with you, who knows."
Warren didn't know if Tam was out to Shen--and that was a whole fuckin mess (of Tam's making, by his reckoning) anyhow, so... yeah. Not touching it. He just grunted affirmative. "That'd explain a lot.
"But I came up with this idea to try and meet her concerns, and even if her problems are totally phobic--fuck it, it's worth it." Warren chewed thoughtfully on some of his snack. "I mentioned the idea to Kurt, too. He's thinking of coming out, but Lil's freak out freaked him out a little. No one expects it from inside our own home. I think he'd join us."
"Oh, Kurt's amazing, that would be great," Shen stated without a moment's hesitation. "I... My uncle and I have been talking. We need more diversity, for other mutants to see and identify with. I'm just not sure how any of it would work, with the X-Men."
“That’s what I told Kurt, about the diversity,” Warren agreed. “I felt kinda bad for being like ‘thank god’ when he said he wanted to do it, but thank god. And we need even more.
“But yeah. I was thinking maybe image inducers for actual stuff where we don’t want to be recognized? Change our wings? People already assume I was the Avenging Angel in some quarters...”
Shen nodded at his words about needing even more; that was why Tian and she had been talking. A lot. Her mind wasn't made up, but she was definitely considering it. "We should talk to Xavier about it, too. He might have ideas." He'd been planning this for a lot longer than them, after all, which she really didn't like, still, but which also meant that he'd had more time to think about this stuff.
Warren made a face but he had to admit, “yeah, we should. Too many of us are too recognizable, with the physical mutations. And I’m gonna be pissed if coming out means I blew my chance at superheroing again.” He chuckled.
"At this stage, it's the only thing holding me back, I think," Shen commiserated. "I can't decide which matters most."
“I’ve got two boyfriends. I’m a firm believer in finding a way to have it all.”
Shen laughed. "And that is part of why I love you. Y'know. As long as you leave me Trevor Noah."
Warren chuckled. "Seems fair.
"Now all I gotta do is see if I can convince Simon to show up. He's not going to, but I'm gonna try."
"It won't look good at all if he doesn't," Shen agreed with a frown.
“It’s not that he won’t want to—well, I mean, he won’t, but mainly because he’s shit at peopleing and he knows it.” Warren’s wings ruffled with concern at the thought. “He’s so good at everything he does... I wouldn’t be surprised if the idea of this made him think he’d just screw it up and make it harder on us. So that’ll be my approach.”
"Good luck with that," she told him honestly. She hadn't had anything against Simon for a good long while, now, and at least he was aware that he sucked at peopleing. A lot.
“If I make it clear that it’ll really help, he’ll do it.” But could Warren convince Simon the potential good outweighed the potential bad? That was gonna be the hard part. “Kurt’s charming as fuck so that’ll offset a lot of awkward. And maybe someone else is considering coming out, and this’ll be encouraging for them.”
"Considering isn't committing to," Shen pointed out. "I mean, I know that personally, I don't wanna move on it unless I'm certain what I'm gonna do."
"Absolutely," Warren said, smiling a little now that Shen had revealed for sure that was what she'd been talking to her uncle about. Man, she'd be awesome out there... but he kept his enthusiasm in check. "It's not a decision I'd want anyone to take quickly. Obviously. I just mean, knowing there's a support system here at the school could be really helpful. It takes one weight off the super-weighty decision.
"And whatever you do, you know you can count on me, right?"
"No doubt in my mind," Shen told him honestly, a genuine smile backing up that answer.
“Damn right.” Warren winked. After chewing another piece of apple, He swallowed and said, “Also, we should make up some flyers to post in classrooms and make sure the teachers draw attention to it. Cover our bases. That cool with you!”
"Flyers, really?" Shen asked with a grimace. "How very last century. I know her point was not everybody uses the journals, but you can post there, ask the teachers to remind people about it, maybe put up a poster or two if you really wanna go with paper, but I don't really see the point in flyers, honestly."
“I don’t see the point in...” but Warren trailed off and sighed, wings rustling. Actually, Shen has kind of convinced him this was a useful idea after all, way more than he had been yesterday. It wasn’t just for show. It might actually encourage some people to feel like they were approachable. “Actually, never mind. I do see the point in all of this. I’m not talking about passing out flyers, though, just posting them in the classrooms. Might not make a difference, but on the off chance, I think it’s worth it.”
"Whatever you wanna do," Shen agreed easily. That didn't sound like using too much paper, and it would show how serious they were about reaching out. She paused, then admitted, "I don't know if I'll be relieved or disappointed if nobody's got any questions."
“I probably couldn’t help being insufferably smug,” Warren admitted. “But I promise to try.”
"Aw," Shen cooed at him, then smiled. "That settles it. I'll be pissed if nobody does."
Warren chuckled. "Can't say I blame you.
"But thanks, seriously. I'll get to work on rounding up the troops--and work on some wording for an advert. Let me know when the next meeting is supposed to happen?"
"I'll send you the schedule, you can pick your date," Shen nodded.
"You're the best."/cut>
no subject
Date: 2017-12-08 02:17 am (UTC)Also, Warren and Shen are awesome, he says :D
no subject
Date: 2017-12-08 02:19 am (UTC)